Source: National Disability Services South Australia

MEDIA RELEASE

6 June 2008

$98m for disability services in SA, but not all new

The South Australian Government has matched new recurrent Commonwealth funding for disability services in South Australia, but only by counting the funding it announced in last year’s budget.

NDS South Australia welcomed the new money, but expressed disappointment that it would not be nearly sufficient to meet the large and growing need for disability services in South Australia.  

The Commonwealth has agreed to provide an extra $72.9 million over four years for SA disability services on condition that the State Government matches this funding. Yesterday’s State Budget announced only $26 million over four years. This matches the Commonwealth’s contribution only when added to last year’s budget announcement of $46.9 million.

“When the SA Minister joined with other State Disability Ministers on 30 May in confirming that he would match new Commonwealth funding, we had hoped that all the matching funds would be announced in this Budget,” said NDS SA Manager Noelene Wadham. 

While the new funding is welcome, the funding injection into South Australia is spread over four years and is much less than required to meet the need for services.  That level of need is rising because of population ageing and other factors.

The 2008-09 SA Budget also confirms previously announced one-off funding including

• $8m for disability compliance in the public transport network
• $5m to clear equipment waiting lists, and
• $2m for the redevelopment of the hydrotherapy pool complex at Novita’s Regency Park Centre.

Spending of the new money has been specified for providing new services and packages in the following areas

• supported accommodation for 92 people who are urgently waiting (including 55 places in the eleven new homes which will be built as a result of a Commonwealth one off grant of $8m)
• 102 packages of intensive home support for people with a disability, so they do not have to go into nursing homes or group homes
• 1295 respite places, helping families with the burden of ongoing care, including sixty  places in rehabilitation programs for people with a brain injury, and
• 650 individual care packages to support people with disabilities.

National Disability Services (NDS) is the peak industry body for non-government disability. Its Australia-wide membership includes 630 not-for-profit organisations, which support people with all forms of disability.

Contact:    Noelene Wadham, State Manager, National Disability Services SA

Ph: 08 8338 0733, Mbl: 0415 800 188